Her Reluctant Hero

This novel, is the first in The Artful Women series about independent women, who while facing down a problem in their lives, come face-to-face with strong,
ego-driven men who do offer solutions---but at what cost?

When Claire DeStephano and Nick Rizzo meet in Her Reluctant Hero, sparks fly like flint on metal. He sees her as an irritating little bimbo with a smart mouth to boot. She sees him as an overbearing, arrogant former Navy SEAL who is too bossy for his own good.

Yet when Claire unwittingly reveals why she and her little girl may soon be on the run, Rizzo knows she is headed for trouble. Big trouble. And to be honest with herself, Claire will have to admit that this overgrown alpha male may be her only hope for safety for herself and her young daughter.

Both Claire and Rizzo will come to realize they share the same dilemma. Both are running from the past, although for different reasons. But before the story ends, each will teach the other it's time to forget the past and look to the future.

Excerpt from Her
Reluctant Hero ....."Here," Rizzo said, handing
the phone back to the irritating
little Munchkin, "Ms. Malloy wants to talk to you."

Rizzo could
not afford to waste any more time. He
dragged in his equipment and began checking the system.

The Munchkin
came up behind him. "You didn't
have to tattle on me, she pouted.
"How was I to know? Your van
doesn't even have a sign on it, identifying your company."

He turned to
stare at her in disbelief. "For
your information, sister, CONDOR22 is a national corporate intelligence and
surveillance company, not an alarm installation service. If we advertised our business on the sides of
our vehicles, the bad guys could just say, 'Oh, look, here comes CONDOR22. We'd
better get the hell out of here!'"

"If
that's the case then, why are you here tinkering with Ms. Malloy's alarm system
instead of doing some sort of super-secret intelligence caper? And for your information, I am not your
sister," she added.

She gave him a
scathing look. "For your
information, I am reporting your insolence and rudeness to your company."

"Go right ahead and be sure to spell
the name right," he growled.
"It's Nick Rizzo. R-I-Z-Z-O."

She turned and
started down the hallway, high heels clicking, but then spun around to face
him. "Got it, and let's see...the
name of the firm is CONDOR22. Like the
bird, I believe you said. Flap Flap, Mr.
Rizzo. R-I-Z-Z-O."